Feb. 8.] THE NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE. 445

tinguishing badge, and the four most proficient in each company shall receive a personal payment of £1 each for current year. The sixteen members of any Rifle company and the four members of any Cycle company who, in qualifying for a marksman’s badge, as elsewhere provided, make the highest score in their company shall receive a personal payment of 10s. each for current year, and the member making the highest score in the battalion shall receive an additional personal payment of 10s.

Field Hospital and Bearer Companies and Garrison and Battalion Bands.

419. Members who pass the examination as laid down from time to time for Field Hospital and Bearer companies, and who are recommended by P.M.O. of district, shall be permitted to wear a distinguishing badge, and the eight most proficient in a Field Hospital and Bearer company, and the three most efficient men in a garrison or battalion band, shall receive a personal payment of £1 each for current year.

Cadet Volunteers.

420. Ten marksman’s badges shall be issued to the cadets who make the highest score in each company in their annual target practice, and a personal payment of 5s. shall be made to each of the five marksmen making the highest scores.

Syllabus for Signalling, except Field Engineer Volunteers.

421. A practical examination only shall be held, a minimum rate of four words a minute for sending and receiving “service” messages by day and night, on all signalling instruments for the time being laid down as the equipment for the several arms or corps, with a percentage of accuracy of 93 on each instrument. Garrison Artillery shall also pass in telephone operating.

Class Firing Practice Badges.

422. Efficient members of such Artillery batteries or companies of Volunteers as qualify in their yearly class firing practice as first-class batteries or companies will be permitted to wear a badge, provided they were present at and took part in such practice.

Service Badges.

423. A Volunteer may wear a badge for every period of three consecutive years for which he has been returned as efficient.

424. A Volunteer who has been returned as efficient for nine consecutive years may wear a “distinguished” badge in lieu of the three badges earned under the previous regulation.

RAILWAY PASSES.

425. Os.C. Districts may issue free railway passes to Volunteers to the nearest rifle range to enable them to practice or class-fire, and for the purpose of competitions in the district up to 100 miles. Railway passes may be issued to members of the Defence Forces who are bona fide competitors at the New Zealand Defence Forces Rifle Association meeting, and also to Volunteers and Defence Cadets who are bona fide competitors in matches arranged by the O.C. the District for any grant voted by Parliament. The names of the persons to whom any passes are granted shall in each case be inserted in such pass.

426. No railway passes shall be granted to members of Defence Forces for any distance over a hundred miles, except in the case of those attending the New Zealand Defence Forces Rifle Association meeting.

427. Free railway passes shall be granted to Volunteers, where and when necessary, to attend battalion camps, but it must be distinctly understood by Os.C. Districts that all battalion camps must be held at the nearest suitable place to headquarters. Only in most exceptional cases shall passes be issued for mounted corps, and only under the authority of the Commandant.

428. Os.C. Districts may issue free railway passes to Volunteers to attend military funerals, provided that such Volunteers have been detailed as a firing party at such funeral.

429. Railway passes shall not be issued by the O.C. the District to Volunteers for the purpose of attending military sports, but he may, if he thinks fit, forward and recommend applications to the Commandant for his consideration.